There are several tech giants like Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, and Google among others advise two-step verification for additional security of user accounts. The search engine giant, Google is introducing a new prompt feature that simplifies its two-step verification process in order to make it easier to sign-in for iOS and Android users.

How can you enable Google 2-step verification?

To enable it, head over to Google’s My Account section and choose the Google prompt under Sign-in & Security > Signing in to Google > 2-Step Verification.

“There are multiple ways your end users can approve sign-in requests via 2SV by tapping a Security Key, by entering a verification code sent to their phone or, starting today, by approving a prompt like the one below that will pop up on their phone.” Google

Last year, Google 2-step verification process was launched in order to improve account security for Google users. Although this verification process is secure as well as useful but it is not the most convenient one. Google might have realized that and has now updated the feature by adding a prompt option which makes the two-step verification good to go accompanied with ease.

Earlier Method

A Google user had to enter the passcode sent to the mobile phone every time they logged into their account.

New Method

The updated feature now will ask the user “Are you trying to sign-in?” and also the details of the device that is trying to access the concerned account.

This new feature will also show the location of the device from the account access request has been sent.

The prompt will offer the user two options

The first one being: No, deny sign-in

The second one being: Yes, allow sign-in.

Previously, the two-step verification required the users to sign-in by either entering the verification code that was sent to the user on their email or phone numbers or by providing a security key.

As per Google reports, the prompt option will start appearing on the ‘My Account’ page from Monday. Options that were earlier present will still be there like confirmation SMS, security key, and the confirmation mail will still be there.

Google says that the new feature is being rolled out gradually and may “potentially take longer than 3 days for feature visibility.”

Though this prompt option is available for both iOs and Android users but the iOS users will need to install the Google search app on their mobile phones.

How to access?

This update in My Account page has made it easier to manage privacy and security. The users are now able to control and check what a simple Google search of their name shows.

Other changes in My Account Page

Along with this prompt feature, Google has also launched ‘Find your phone’ service. This service can be accessed from the My Account page directly. This was earlier available to Android users only and could be accessed from Android Device Manager but now even iOS users can make use of this feature.

This Prompt-In feature will solve a lot of problems. It will give an alert to a user when they are signing in on another device. By going with a Yes or No option upon prompt will happen. Now users don’t have to keep on typing a new OTP every time they sign-in via Google on a new mobile device or desktop.

Google says that as of now admins can’t have Google prompt and Security Keys enabled at the same time.

How to enable Google 2-Step Verification?

Still don’t have Two-step verification enabled on your device? You can set up two-factor authentication by following the below-mentioned steps:

Go to Google Account Security and under Password.

Find the option of 2-step verification.

Click on setup. On the next page, click Start Set Up.

On the next page, sign in. You will find a box, wherein you will have to enter your phone number.

As per your preference, choose the mode by which you will receive the code. You need to click on ‘Send Code’.

After this, a six-digit code will appear on your phone via call or text message. You need to enter the code on the website and after that click Verify> Next> Confirm.

After this, Google will ask you to reconnect all your devices and apps. If in case, you have configured apps to access your Google account on some other device, you will have to set a separate app password for each and sign in again.

Conclusion

Well, with Google’s hoping to fix the hunting for your mobile device and manually typing in the auto-generated password code, the pain could be eased.

You can log into Google Apps or Gmail by just tapping to ‘Yes, allow sign-in’. However, Apple users need to install the Google Search app to access this feature. Also, both Android and iOS users need to have a data connection for it to work. This means it may not be the best option for every time.

Two-factor authentication is a great way to keep your online accounts secure, but between hunting for your phone and manually typing in the auto-generated passcode, it can be quite a pain.

Do you think this new Prompt-In feature will be a success? Share your views with us.

Sakshi is a content marketer during the day and a reader by night. She writes content sprinkled with a twisted imagination. She has done her graduation in psychology from Delhi University and has an insane love for history.